The Fisherman’s Wife

Fa wid be a fisherman’s wife

Tae work wi’ a tub an a scrubber an’ a knife

A deid oot fire an’ a raivel’d bed

An’ awa tae the mussels in the mornin.

Here we come scoorin in

Three reefs tae the foresail in

There’s nae a dry stick tae pit on wer back

But still we’re aa teetotllers.

Fa’ll gie’s the hand tae rin a ripper lead

Tae try for a coddie in the bay o’ Peterheid?

They’re maybe at the Lummies or the clock on Sautis’eid

Fen we gaun tae the sma lines in the mornin.

Here we come scoorin in

Three reefs tae the foresail in

There’s nae a dry stick tae pit on wer back

But still we’re aa teetotllers.

Puir aul father’s in the middle o’ the flair

Beatin heuks ontae tippets an they’re hangin on his chair.

They’re made wi horses’ hair, man, for that’s the best o’ gear

Tae be gyan tae the fishin in the mornin.

Here we come scoorin in,

Three reefs tae the foresail in.

There’s nae a dry stick tae pit on wer back,

But still we’re aa teetotllers.

Doon the Geddle Braes in the middle o’ the nicht

Wi an aul seerup tin an a can’le for a licht,

Tae gaither up the pullars, ev’ry een o’ them in sicht

So we’ll get the linie baited for the mornin.

Here we come scoorin in

Three reefs tae the foresail in

There’s nae a dry stick tae pit on wer back

But still we’re aa teetotllers.

It’s easy to the cobbler, sittin in his neuk

His big copper kettle hangin on a crook

But we’re in the boo and we cannae get a heuk

It’s sair hard work in the mornin.

Here we come scoorin in,

Three reefs tae the foresail in.

There’s nae a dry stick tae pit on wer back,

But still we’re aa teetotllers.

It’s nae the kin o’ life that a gentle quine can thole

Wi her fingers reid raw wi the scrubbin oot a yole

An a littlen on her hip, she’s awa tae cairry coal

She’ll be caaed sair deen in the mornin.

Here we come scoorin in

Three reefs tae the foresail in

There’s nae a dry stick tae pit on wer back

But still we’re aa teetotllers.

Fa wid be a fisherman’s wife

Tae work wi’ a tub an a scrubber an’ a knife

A deid oot fire an’ a raivel’d bed

An’ awa tae the mussels in the mornin.

• Artist:Janet Russell
• Album:Dancin’ Chantin’